Pan's Labyrinth


Movies


I just saw the film today and I have to say that I really loved it. The acting, I felt, was decent. I never winced at a poor delivery, nor felt that any of the characters lacked development. From a special effects standpoint, I loved how Del Toro handled it: sparingly. They weren't over the top, and they didn't carry the film. I wound up interested in the characters as portrayed by the actors more than with the eye candy, even though what eye candy there was was beautiful. Some of the prettiest scenes didn't have special effects at all: the forest in which the film takes place is spectacular enough without any cg.

A beautiful film that I would highly recommend whether you enjoy fantasy or not. Also, it made me want to learn Spanish.

Paizo Employee Director of Sales

/Jealous!

It's only in limited release right now (New York... LA... but NOT Seattle?!? WTF?!?) so won't have a wide release for a few weeks yet. *sigh*

I'm a big fan of Del Toro's other work (Chronos, Devil's Backbone AND Hellboy), so I've been anxiously awaiting this film since I first heard about it.

Evidently this is a story that Del Toro has wanted to make for years and only after his recent success has he been able to get it made. This kind of "labor of love" type of filmmaking (when it isn't completely overwrought) leads to some truly great, well thought-out films.


Well, Cosmo, when you get a chance to see it or get it on dvd, you will not be disappointed. I won't spoil anything, but the film definitely has a lot of love put into its production without (in my opinion) being overwrought. Del Toro really did a great job of keeping the special effects from taking over the film and I think a lot of directors could learn from that.


Let me second this. Wonderful film. And the parallel story lines work so wonderfuly together. Speilberg and Lucas could learn quite a bit from this film. Not only is it a great story, but it also is visualy apealing (and then some)without going overobard.


Thirded. I've seen it twice and it only gets better with time. And I love ambiguous movies; is it hallucination or reality? There's no way to tell for sure.

Btw, did anyone else catch on as to why the captain is so sure that his baby will be a son before he's born? It's been bugging the heck out of me.


Tequila Sunrise wrote:

Thirded. I've seen it twice and it only gets better with time. And I love ambiguous movies; is it hallucination or reality? There's no way to tell for sure.

Btw, did anyone else catch on as to why the captain is so sure that his baby will be a son before he's born? It's been bugging the heck out of me.

I think it's just the magical power of fascist self deception. He's sure it will be a son, because, hey, it's his kid. He can allow for no other possible outcome. I think it would have been a very different film if his child had been born a girl.


I saw this a couple of nights ago, and it was certainly not what I expected; Even though I had been warned, I wasn't prepared for the level of brutality and tragedy that the movie contains. I guess I am used to American films, which never really fall into the category of tragedies. The closest they seem to get is nihilistic, eg. "Requiem for a Dream", but never actually tragic in the Greek/Shakespearean sense. I thought this film was.

When we walked out my girlfriend said "that was like watching Hamlet or something. So many people died, and it wasn't silly like in Apocalypto." (Take that, Mel Gibson!)

Also, this may sound wierd coming from a big fantasy/sci-fi fan, but I think the film made me feel that fantasy was somehow hollow, and that the tradedies of people's real lives are far more powerful and affecting than any fantasy can ever be. I don't know if that was Del Toro's intention or not, but that's how I felt afterwards. All the fantasy just felt like the escapism of an unhappy child. It was very sad.

Oh, and I agree. The effects were very well done. All in all I thought this was a very remarkable movie. I don't really know how else to put it!


kahoolin wrote:


Also, this may sound wierd coming from a big fantasy/sci-fi fan, but I think the film made me feel that fantasy was somehow hollow, and that the tradedies of people's real lives are far more powerful and affecting than any fantasy can ever be. I don't know if that was Del Toro's intention or not, but that's how I felt afterwards. All the fantasy just felt like the escapism of an unhappy child. It was very sad.

You know, that's exactly what I thought but my roommate had a different perspective. He actually came out of the movie convinced that the fantasy was real. We talked it over and came to the conclusion that Del Toro's intention was ambiguous. Otherwise, how did the little girl (why am I so bad with names?!) get out of her room near the movie's end to steal her baby brother? Her guard could have been distracted or removed somehow, but we never see how exactly she escapes.

Liberty's Edge

James Keegan wrote:


I think it's just the magical power of fascist self deception.

If this forum allowed users to have signatures, this quote would SO be going in mine. Rock on, man. Rock on.

I would really like to see the movie, too, but since I'm happily nestled in the rural Midwest, I sincerely doubt I'll be getting that chance any time soon. I've read the premise of it, and, honestly? The movie is called "Pan's Labyrinth," and I'd probably see it even if a lot of people thought it was horrible. The fact that you fine folks like it just makes me yearn for it all the more.


Courtney! wrote:
[I would really like to see the movie, too, but since I'm happily nestled in the rural Midwest, I sincerely doubt I'll be getting that chance any time soon.

Tiny lil 'buckle of the biblebelt' Springfield MO is getting it, if only for a week. It might come to yer burg.


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I just saw the film here in Tempe. It is one of the best films I've seen in awhile. There were just a few scenes where I thought the violence was over-the-top and unnecessary. Especially for a film that would, otherwise, be appropriate for precocious young adults.

Also having seen Courtney's post on the movie. The title is actually "El Laberinto del Fauno" With all of us, being D&D fans we realize there is a difference between Faun and Pan. I had wondered about that before the film and The Labyrinth of the Faun would probably be a better title, but in the same spirit that changed the Harry Potter first film from Philosopher's Stone to Sorcerer's Stone because it would confuse American audiences.


We saw it in Austin (at the Alamo Draft House) several weeks ago and it was an excellent film. Dark, creepy, violent -- the violence took me by surprise.

I've heard reports of people walking out but I enjoyed it well enough that I want to see it again.

Dark Archive RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32

Kata. the ..... wrote:
I just saw the film here in Tempe.

Tempe... Arizona? Heh, small world. I'm in Mesa.

My wife and I went to see it last week. We both really liked it, but the violence was definitely a big surprise. My wife kept averting her eyes when it occurred because it made her feel sick but she agreed that it was a good show.

Definitely NOT a fairy tale for children.

Dark Archive RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32

Tequila Sunrise wrote:
Otherwise, how did the little girl (why am I so bad with names?!) get out of her room near the movie's end to steal her baby brother? Her guard could have been distracted or removed somehow, but we never see how exactly she escapes.

Did you miss the scene with the magical chalk that opens doorways into the walls? That's how she got out.


Fatespinner wrote:
Tequila Sunrise wrote:
Otherwise, how did the little girl (why am I so bad with names?!) get out of her room near the movie's end to steal her baby brother? Her guard could have been distracted or removed somehow, but we never see how exactly she escapes.
Did you miss the scene with the magical chalk that opens doorways into the walls? That's how she got out.

No, I didn't miss that scene. I was using this very scene to demonstrate the plausibility of her adventures being real rather than hallucinations.

Dark Archive RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32

Tequila Sunrise wrote:
No, I didn't miss that scene. I was using this very scene to demonstrate the plausibility of her adventures being real rather than hallucinations.

Ah, yes. Reading over your entry again, I see what you were saying. I apologize for the misinterpretation.

Grand Lodge

Just saw it, and I enthusiastically agree with everybody else - great, great movie. I do disagree with the notion that there was too much violence, though - the realism and savagery of it underscores the distance between beautiful dreams and ugly realities, and drives home the need to dream. I didn't really see it as a fantasy epic (though it is that, too), but rather as a commentary on the shallowness and bankruptcy of the fascist dreamworld - they may claim to represent a new visionary movement, but are unable to process even the tiniest figment of childlike imagination.

Also, a huge kudos to Del Toro is in order for his director's touch. There are sooooo many way this movie could have been spoiled by hackneyed mainstream directing. Just imagine what it would have looked like with Michael Bay at the helm... *shudder*

Liberty's Edge

Finally got to see the movie last night. Yay for me! Such a romantic date movie for V-Day, I know...

Yeah, "The Labyrinth of the Faun" would have been lots more descriptive, but then people might have been asking, "where's the deer?" Actually, I think most of the other people in the theater might have already known what a faun was. My sister went out the same night to see the latest Hugh Grant movie, and told me about all the cute, clean-cut couples packed in the theater. When I saw PL, there was a scattering of goth girls, guys in black hoodies, long-haired dudes and pale folk all around. Also, the romantic comedy debuted at the new theater, while PL was at the run-down older one...but I digress.

I thought the movie was just about perfect, and I suspect that fans of the old WoD game Changeling: the Dreaming will be especially pleased when they see it. I've never seen a better portrayal of that type of fantasy.

Now, having said that, I'll be completely honest: the movie upset me a great deal. The horrid, ceaseless brutality hurt my soul to watch, in no small part because I know that such wartime atrocities are all too much a part of our reality. The intermittent wiping of tears and wincing as yet another character was maimed horribly became par for the course as the movie went on. In spite of this, I wouldn't have wanted the movie to be any other way. Every character and every action was just as it needed to be to make Pan's Labyrinth the powerful work of art that it turned out to be.


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This is definitely one of the best films to have been made recently. My "attack" on the excessive violence was more related to laziness of Hollywood directors. I get annoyed when a character acts in some brutal fashion out of character, so the director can let everyone know this is a bad guy.

I remember watching many WW II films where simply giving a guy an armband with a swastika was enough. I think this film was done well and the "over the top" scenes were reasonable in context. I was just more annoyed that without these few (1-3 scenes) this film would be appropriate for many of the children of the Paizo contributors.


BEST MOVIE EVER!!!!!!

Liberty's Edge

Kata. the ..... wrote:
I was just more annoyed that without these few (1-3 scenes) this film would be appropriate for many of the children of the Paizo contributors.

This I definitely understand. I'm the oldest of 6 children in my family, and I know a couple of them would have really appreciated the dark esthetic of the movie. Too bad the folks don't let 'em watch even PG-13s without express approval. Ah, well. I'll get the DVD when it comes out, and we can enjoy it together when they're a bit older.

Paizo Employee Director of Sales

*Resurrects Thread*

I've finally seen this movie, thanks to it's DVD release last week.

Holy crap.

It was awesome.

(that's all)

Shadow Lodge

I just saw this move a couple of nights ago on DVD. It was intense and intensely violent. This film contained the most number of people getting shot in the face/head of any fantasy film I have ever seen.

Seriously though, the movie was very good, though...

Spoiler:
Why did the servant woman not finish off the captain when she had the chance? She knows the guy is a psychopath and so she stabs him a couple of times, threatens him, disfigures him and then tells him "Leave the little girl alone!" and then runs off into the woods!? Why didn't she just cut his throat? She had him at her mercy! She basically told a serial murderer she just greatly insulted and angered "the most important thing to me is the safety of the little girl" and then runs off, leaving him alive and the little girl in his clutches! I just don't get it.

Anyway, the film was great; definately worth a watching at least once, perhaps twice so the story can be verified for internal consistency to try and determine if the fantasy was really real (I think it was but need to see it again to be sure).


Lich-Loved wrote:

This film contained the most number of people getting shot in the face/head of any fantasy film I have ever seen.

Yep, more bullets to the face than ALL the Harry Potter films combined...

Paizo Employee Director of Sales

kahoolin wrote:
Yep, more bullets to the face than ALL the Harry Potter films combined...

Well... at least so far...

You never know what they're going to do with the next movie.

I heard that John Woo* is directing it.

Spoiler:
*Not a guarantee

Dark Archive RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32

Cosmo wrote:
kahoolin wrote:
Yep, more bullets to the face than ALL the Harry Potter films combined...

Well... at least so far...

You never know what they're going to do with the next movie.

I heard that John Woo is directing it.

Man, that would be so awesome. Even better if they found a way to include Jet Li and wire-fighting somehow.

Liberty's Edge

Lich-Loved wrote:

I just saw this move a couple of nights ago on DVD. It was intense and intensely violent. This film contained the most number of people getting shot in the face/head of any fantasy film I have ever seen.

Seriously though, the movie was very good, though...

** spoiler omitted **

Anyway, the film was great; definately worth a watching at least once, perhaps twice so the story can be verified for internal consistency to try and determine if the fantasy was really real (I think it was but need to see it again to be sure).

I think the final few minutes verify the fantasy was just that; all in her imagination. Specifically, reference when the Captain comes up behind her in the heart of the maze, as she's speaking with Pan...


Andrew Turner wrote:
I think the final few minutes verify the fantasy was just that; all in her imagination. Specifically, reference when the Captain comes up behind her in the heart of the maze, as she's speaking with Pan...

Ah but maybe Pan is of the Peter variety and grown-ups can't see him...


It has been a couple of months since I saw it, but I heard that there is reason to suspect that it was *not* totally imaginary.

I don't know how to hide spoilers, so I'll just say

***POSSIBLE SPOILER***

At the end of the movie the little girl is locked in her room in the basement. With no apparent way out. After she runs off (with the baby? I forget), her room is shown and you can see that there is a chalk outline that suggests she used the chalk to make a new exit.

So I think they wanted it to be left up in the air, but there is certainly room to argue that it wasn't all in her head.


Anyone who enjoyed this should definitely check out The Devil's Backbone by the same director. In my opinion, it is a vastly superior film in terms of plot development and setting.

Liberty's Edge

That movie was friggin' awesome.

Spoiler:
"he'll never even know your name." Damn.


This was the sadest movie ever. Tragic from beggining to the end. Although the ending for the bad guy was one of the few cathartic moments in the movie, see Heateanson's spoiler above. Captain Vidal gets my vote as best movie villian ever. I hated that guy! The ambiguity between what was real and what was fantasy was well done. I think for the little girl there was no distinction and the film maker protrayed it that way. I really liked this movie. The Listening to the dialogue in Spanish, just made it sound cool.


A very good film but some shots made me wonder if the level of brutality was necessary, some were 'educational' in that they showed the nature of fascism and war (anti-insurgent war in particular) but others ***MILD SPOILER*** like the guy sewing his lips back together, I wondered what it was supposed to make the viewer feel other than just 'hey, heres something gross to look at'

I hate when violence is sugar coated in films (hello everyone from Lucas to Tarentino) but the director seemed to focus extremely on it in this movie. But maybe my girl is right and I am just a wuss.

Eyeball hands guy was awesome.


drjones wrote:

A very good film but some shots made me wonder if the level of brutality was necessary, some were 'educational' in that they showed the nature of fascism and war (anti-insurgent war in particular) but others ***MILD SPOILER*** like the guy sewing his lips back together, I wondered what it was supposed to make the viewer feel other than just 'hey, heres something gross to look at'

I think it's supposed to show you at what happens when your lip is cut open. Violence is brutal and disgusting. This film held nothing back it was violent, brutal, and tragic.


Yeah I just saw the movie on HBO and liked it quite a bit.

I think del Toro was trying to ground the fantasy more in reality by showing very brutal violence but I think he went too far in a couple of scenes. The bottle scene in the beginning was ridiculously over the top.

What I liked most about the movie is how much you buy into the little girls fantasy that you don't even question it and then in the last 15 minutes of the movie you wonder if it isn't just a fabrication of a little girl that has went over the edge. Brilliant!

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